What will the next stage of Tony Parker's career look like?
Tony Parker is coming off an incredibly disappointing season. Injuries were partly to blame, but those accompany the aging process. When healthy, Parker also was ineffective in areas he normally dominates.
What does this mean for the rest of his career? SB Nation's Spurs blog Pounding the Rock takes a look:
"Since big men didn't have to leave the paint to contest his shot, Parker didn't force the issue by going all the way to the rim against a set defender as much as he has in the past and as a result his free throw attempts per minute decreased significantly. He was also one of the worst players in the league in transition, ranking in the 18th percentile, and was assisted on just 22 percent of his close shots. There were no easy points for Parker inside and with his pull-up not falling from mid-range, the only area in which he truly excelled on offense was corner shooting."
Parker isn't young, and there's a strong chance his best days are behind him. But if he can stay healthy and recapture the aggressive mentality that once made him so great, San Antonio won't regret giving Parker that expensive three-year extension last season.
(h/t: Pounding the Rock)
Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports
